CSME Bills to be Taken to Parliament

Cabinet has sanctioned three pieces of legislation to be taken to Parliament, which will further prepare the island for the imminent Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) and the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). Information Minister, Senator Burchell Whiteman said these were the Movement of Factors Bill and Bills to amend the Professional Engineers Registration Act and the Diplomatic Immunities and Privileges Act.He was speaking at yesterday’s (November 22) post Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House. Senator Whiteman pointed out that the Movement of Factors Bill, which applied to the movement of services; creation of businesses; and the movement of people was necessary, as all member states were required to implement programmes for the removal of the restriction on the rights of Caribbean Community nationals to establish businesses in the different territories, provide services and move capital within the Community. The Minister said that amendment to the Professional Engineers Registration Act, would allow CARICOM nationals who are professional engineers to be registered to practise engineering in Jamaica, on the same basis as Jamaican citizens. It would also allow the Professional Engineers Registration Board in Jamaica to accept relevant work experience in any CARICOM country or any CARICOM member state as qualifying an applicant for registration. Senator Whiteman explained that the Bill to amend the Diplomatic Immunities and Privileges Act sought to extend the privileges and immunities granted to persons under the current law, to more individuals. Persons on whom these particular immunities will be conferred include, judges, registrars, prosecutors, counsel, plaintiffs, defendants, witnesses, experts and victims appearing before an institution referred to in section 7 of the Act, staff and other officials of the judicial institution. Under the current law, diplomatic immunity is granted to heads of diplomatic missions, staff of diplomatic missions and the international court of justice. The CSME is slated to come on stream January 1, 2005.